Snowshoe — Other activities

The Big Top at Snowshoe Mountain, located adjacent to the Shavers Centre base lodge is a 15,000 square foot family fun center. Indoors, it houses an arcade area with more than 60 video games, table games, billiards and a video cafe. Outdoors, is a Eurobungy. And, there’s a stage and performance area, as well. Snowshoe Resort offers snowmobiling tours. Reservations can be made at the Adventure Center in the base village. The cost for a one-hour tour is $50 per driver, plus $15 per passenger.

The spectacular Split Rock Pools, just across from Allegheny Springs, has an exceptional water slide for the kids and hot tubs for the adults. Entrance is included with packages booked through Snowshoe Central Reservations.

The tubing hill at Ruckus Ridge Adventure Park is found at Silver Creek. The cost runs $12 per person for two hours, or $15 for an all-day pass.

Spa Vantage (572-0804), at the Vantage, offers massages, manicures and pedicures, waxing, facials, hair salon, workout facility, men’s and women’s saunas and outdoor hot tubs. The spa offers the only fitness center open to the public. Prices range from $15 for waxing to $120 for an 80-minute Swedish massage or stone therapy. Guests can purchase day, week, month or year passes to the fitness center.

Nobody is going to mistake this place for a shopper’s paradise. The expanding base village represents an attempt to bring in some interesting shops, but it’s minimal at best. We like The Chocolate Factory (572-1289) because, well, who doesn’t love a store that sells chocolate? Wildcat Provisions sells provisions for your condo, but beware the high-elevation prices. If you’re heading to a condo, best to pack in supplies from your local supermarket, then add absolute necessities, or must-be-fresh stuff here. It also rents videos and VCRs, sells gas and makes some pretty good sandwiches.